Gut Health Support

A functional, root-cause approach to bloating, IBS, constipation, diarrhea, reflux, and digestive discomfort. Digestive symptoms can affect every part of life how you eat, how you sleep, your mood, your energy, and how confident you feel day to day. Many of the patients I see have been struggling for years, often after being told:

  • “Everything looks normal on your tests.”

  • “It’s probably IBS.”

  • “Just avoid certain foods.”

But symptoms are always telling us something. They’re evidence of physiology that needs support. My role is to help you understand why your symptoms are happening and what we can do to correct them.

Before We Begin: What Needs To Be Ruled Out

A thorough digestive assessment always starts with safety.
If you have not yet ruled out inflammatory bowel conditions such as:

  • Crohn’s disease

  • Ulcerative colitis

…these should be evaluated through your family doctor or gastroenterologist first.
If you have ruled out inflammatory disease or if your symptoms don’t fit IBD then we explore functional digestive issues, which are extremely common and highly responsive to treatment. I also support patients with confirmed IBD by helping reduce inflammation triggers, support nutrient absorption, and improve digestive stability between flares.

When IBS Isn’t the Whole Story

When IBS Isn’t the Whole Story

When IBS Isn’t the Whole Story
“IBS” is a symptom label not a diagnosis that explains the root cause.
IBS-type symptoms may include:

  • Bloating or fullness

  • Constipation, diarrhea, or alternating patterns

  • Gas or abdominal pressure

  • Discomfort after eating

  • Unpredictable bowels

  • Food sensitivities

But the real question is: what’s driving these symptoms?

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

SIBO occurs when bacteria grow in the small intestine where they shouldn’t be, leading to fermentation, gas production, inflammation, and motility changes.

SIBO can look identical to IBS.

Common symptoms include:

  • Bloating that worsens through the day

  • Gas and distention after meals

  • Constipation or diarrhea

  • Reflux or upper abdominal pressure

  • Nausea or early fullness

  • Increased reactivity to foods

  • Fatigue and brain fog related to meals

  • Symptoms worse with stress or irregular eating patterns

Not all IBS is SIBO but research suggests up to 70% of IBS cases involve a SIBO component.

SIBO Breath Testing

Once we review your symptoms, I may recommend a hydrogen/methane SIBO breath test, performed at home through a specialty lab.

Cost: $230
(Pass-through cost only; Dr. Kate does not add any markup; prices as of 2026, subject to change)

The test:

  • Is completed at home

  • Uses lactulose to measure fermentation patterns

  • Reports hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen-sulfide indicators

  • Helps determine the type of overgrowth and the most effective treatment approach

Testing is optional — some patients choose to treat based on symptoms, while others prefer objective confirmation.

What Our Work Together Looks Like

Whether you have IBS, suspected SIBO, chronic bloating, reflux, constipation, diarrhea, or simply a sense that your digestion isn’t functioning well, I take a structured, physiology-based approach.

SIBO can look identical to IBS.

Your first visit includes:

  • A comprehensive digestive history

  • Review of symptom patterns and timing

  • Evaluation of motility, stomach acid, bile flow, and microbiome factors

  • Assessment of the gut–brain axis and stress physiology

  • Review of any past bloodwork or imaging

  • Determining whether SIBO testing or private bloodwork is appropriate

After your visit:

Within 1–2 business days, you receive a personalized, structured treatment plan that may include:

  • Dietary strategies tailored to your symptoms

  • Targeted supplements to reduce bloating, support motility, and improve digestion

  • A phased approach for SIBO treatment (if appropriate)

  • Support for stomach acid, bile flow, and pancreatic enzymes

  • Gut–brain and stress regulation strategies

Clear sequencing so you know what to do first, second, and third

Digital Symptom Tracking

All digestive patients receive access to a secure symptom tracker so we can monitor:

  • Bloating severity

  • Bowel movement patterns

  • Gas, distention, and abdominal pain

  • Food triggers

  • Reflux episodes

  • Sleep, stress, energy, and mood correlations

This allows for more accurate adjustments and faster progress.

Follow-Up Visits

Follow-ups typically occur every 4–6 weeks, depending on the complexity of symptoms and whether you’re completing the SIBO protocol.
Follow-ups are used to:

  • Review symptom tracking data

  • Review any breath test or bloodwork results

  • Adjust supplements and treatments

  • Support reintroduction phases

  • Ensure long-term digestive stability

You Don’t Have to Navigate Digestive Issues Alone

Whether you’ve struggled with IBS for years, suspect SIBO, or simply want a clearer understanding of your gut health, we can create a plan that makes sense of your symptoms and supports healing in a structured, realistic way.
Your symptoms are not “just IBS.”
 There is a reason and together, we’ll find it.